Ball Ventures is a real estate investment and development company that owns Snake River Landing. Ball Ventures works with a variety of non-proft organizations to help in whatever way they can. Most recently, Liza Leonard is working on Christmas on the river.
Ball Ventures is a real estate investment and development company that owns Snake River Landing. Ball Ventures works with a variety of non-proft organizations to help in whatever way they can. Most recently, Liza Leonard is working on Christmas on the river.
Ball Ventures is a real estate investment and development company that owns Snake River Landing. Ball Ventures works with a variety of non-proft organizations to help in whatever way they can. Most recently, Liza Leonard is working on Christmas on the river.
By Krysten Bullock kbullock@postregister.com A fer graduating from Idaho State University, Liza Leonard wanted to work for a company where she could grow in her career aspirations. She earned a bachelors degree in busi- ness administration with an emphasis in marketing and was looking for a job that would allow her to really be involved. She found that with Ball Ventures in Idaho Falls. Being a part of Ball Ventures and Snake River Landing is a pretty exciting opportunity and a great place for me to work on my career, Leonard said. Ball Ventures is a real estate invest- ment and development company that owns Snake River Landing. Te company also owns and manages other companies throughout the country. Leonard started out in sales with Ball Ventures, and over the past two years has worked as the marketing manager. She primarily does marketing for Snake Riv- er Landing, but also markets other Ball Ventures properties. I looked at companies that gave me the opportunity to really be involved, Leonard said. Where people can have a lot of op- portunities to do very diverse things. Working for Ball Ventures also afords Leonard the opportunity to be more in- volved with the community. I feel really lucky to work for a com- pany that gives me the opportunity to do so many things in the community, Leon- ard said. According to Leonard, Ball Ventures works with a variety of non-proft organi- zations to help in whatever way they can. We try to support a diverse group of nonprofts and school organizations to make a big impact, Leonard said. Most recently, Leonard is working on Christmas on the River, which is set for Dec. 6. Tat event is held in conjunction with Coats for Kids. According to Leon- ard they collect coats and other items and give them to Eastern Idaho Community Action Partnership to distribute to chil- dren in need. Leonard is also on the committee for Relay for Life in Bonneville County. Teres a lot of money raised in this community and Im happy to be a part of that organization as well because it does a lot of good, Leonard said. It not only raises money for cancer research, but also really tries to involves cancer survivors, their families, and people who have lost family members to cancer and really tries to bring some hope and a bright spot to that whole experience. People are work- ing toward the cure and there is a whole network of people behind you to help you through that tragedy. Leonard is married and has two chil- dren. She and her husband were both born and raised in Idaho and love the area. Idaho Falls is a great location for us both to do what we love in our careers, Leonard said. Krysten Bullock/kbullock@postregister.com Liza Leonard is the marketing manager for Ball Ventures which owns and operates Snake River Landing. Growing career Ball Ventures helps Leonard grow personally, professionally By Casey Archibald carchibald@postregister.com N ancy Torsen is the own- er of a lot of diferent col- lections. Her home is like a museum, flled with collections that represent her lifetime of trav- els, accomplishments and experi- ences. Among her collections are teddy bears with wooden faces, Princess Diana fgurines, Toby Jugs, pieces of Waterford Crystal, delicate china, artwork by Ida- ho artists, oriental dolls and of course, hats. Torsen is commonly known in Idaho Falls as Te Hat Lady because of the years she spent during her career as a REALTOR wearing a diferent hat every day. A closet in her basement is lined with s ome whe r e between 800 and 900 pieces of headwear. P e r h a p s more impres- sive how- ever, is the collection of years of vol- unteer service that Torsen has accumulated throughout her lifetime. Since she arrived in Idaho Falls in 1980, Torsen has dedicated her time to a variety of volunteer opportunities, including her po- sition as Friends of the Library President, Idaho Falls Symphony Board member, Civitan Presi- dent, Idaho Volunteers President and Habitat for Humanity Fund- raising Chair. She has also been recognized with a variety of dif- ferent awards for her eforts. I have always believed in two things: what goes around comes around, and you have to pay for the space you take, said Torsen. If you are benefting from the community you need to give back to the community. I have been an avid volunteer all my life and I al- ways believe in giving back. Torsen was the top REAL- TOR in Idaho Falls for many years and she said she loved her job at the time. In recent years she retired from her ca- reer and is now concen- trating her eforts on her position as the Idaho Falls Sister Cities Presi- dent. I d a h o Falls Sister Cities is an organization that involves c oor di na - tion between members in Idaho Falls and in Tokai, Japan. Tese two cities are far apart from one another on the globe, but close to- gether in a variety of ways. Both cit- ies are involved in nuclear research, Idaho Falls grows russet potatoes and Tokai grows sweet potatoes, and both locations were already sending engineers back and forth when the program was started in 1981. Torsen was deeply involved from day one and has now been president for four years. Both cities organize youth and adult trips so members of each location may visit their sister city. Besides the trips, the cities each send generous gifs to one an- other. Torsen said the gifs from Japan are displayed at several dif- ferent locations in Idaho Falls so people can enjoy the treasures that have come from Tokai. To help celebrate the 30th year anniversary a few years ago, Tokai sent two giant, concrete, Japanese lanterns as a gif to Idaho Falls. See Torsen, page 12 The Hat Lady Thorsen has several collections, including her famous hats Nancy Thorsen 9 4 3 IC C 1 0 1 3